Vehicle-spring.



L. MAYER. VEHICLE SPRING. APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 1, 1911.

1 008,422 Patented No vnM, 1 911.

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Yaw W L. MAYFR. 1 VEHICLE SPRING. APPLIOATION FILED r1111. 1, 1911.

Patentd Nov. 14,1911.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

modifie UNITED STA Ties rATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS MAYER, 0F MAN'KA TO, MINNESOTA.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

Application filed February 1, i911.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that I, LOUIS MAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Man kato, in the county of Blue Earth and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs," and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for an improved vehicle spring especially adapted for supporting the, bodies of automobiles from their running gears.

To the above ends, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

its object to provide In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate t like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the view partly in rear vertical section and y,

,plied t t e parts being drawings, elevation with some 1e parts shown in F? parts in t eir normal positions; section ta (en approximately on the line to 92* of Fi spondir the device.

Of the parts of the automobile, the numeral 1 indicates the rear Wheels,the numelfal 2 the rear axle casing and the numera 3 the frame of the automobile body the latter, as shown, being a rectangular metal structure. The body frame 3 will be supported from the running gear of the machine preferably by four of the improved vehicle. springs hereinafter described, :two thereof being connected to the rear axle casing and the other two thereof being connected to the front axle just inward bf the customary steering knuckles.

Each of th comprises a, toggle 'and a. spring anrangcd -to normally hold the said toggle in a pre position to yieldinglv support body. As preferably conetermmed the vehicle as shown Specification of Letters Patent.

' 12, the tension e improved vehicle springs;

Patented N 0v. 1 1, 1911. Serial No. 605,890.

be at the ese plungers are, as shown, extended through perforations 10 in thebody frame 8'and through spring casings or boxes 11 secured to said frame. The inner ends of the plunge-rs 9 are threaded and, as shown, procooperating Washers operating Washers 13 and the sides of the ody frame 3. By adjustments of the nuts of the springs 14 may be varied to adapt the vehicle to carry different loads The springs" 14 exert in vertical positions shown in Fig. 1.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the cooperating axially alinedsprings 14 on the opposite sides the so-ca.lled horizontal a horizontal plane and normallyro-act through the links 4. Hence, they exert force tending to preventthe body frame 3 from moving downward and, font errr ore, they exert a force which tends to- .old the vehicle frame from being raised. In this normal position of the parts, the ends of the links 4 and. 5 do not en sides of the frame 3 but, on th there is a slight parts. This prever ts pounding when the parts assume normal positions after ha-v'ng been moved into the'position shown in Fig. 2 by an excessive force produced. for instance, in running over in the roadbed. Tl may be here stated that the tension of the springs 14 will usua lv be such that they wi the toggles in the normal positions shown e contrary.

' compressed between the co;

of the vehicle hold links 4.alined in p 10o" gage with the clearance between. the said an obstacle or a 1 Mt 1.10" ll carry the load with in Fig. 1. while on a smooth road or while standing still, but will yield to relieve the gles to the vehicle frame. 5, in some instances,

' frame.

' are moved toward adead center by movevehicle body from jars in running over rough roads, over obstructions or over ruts in the road. However, this exact adjustment is not essential and the springs will, in fact, under heavy loads,'frequently yield so as to permit arts tomove more or' less toward the position shown in Fig. 2.

From one point of view, the links 4 and plungers -9 constitute toggles and the links 5 constitute hangers for connecting the to The said lin s instead of extending upward from their pivotal. connection to the links 4, may extend downward and have their lower ends attached to the vehicle The spring devices described are not only efficient in resisting downward strains, but they are Well adapted to resist the recoil or return movements under re-actions of thesprings 14, inasmuch as they do not return to normal positions against positive stops but simply assume positions shown in Fig. 1, from which positions they may be yieldingly moved in either direction, to-wit.

either upward or downward. Otherwise,

stated, the spring connections are shockabsorbing in their action because of the fact that the reacting force of the springs 14 are not abruptly thrown against astop but ments of the intermediate toggle joints on the arc of a circle. The spring connections have this further advantage that, if one of the springs 14 should be broken, the vehicle framewill not be drop ed, but the spring connection having the hroken spring will simply lose its resilience thepgsition shown in Fig. 2 with the coils of the said springs 14 pressed together and affording a positive stop. Furthermore, the spring connections are of comparatively small cost, and may be easily repaired in case one or more of the springs 14 should be broken.

What I claim is: v 11. The combination-with avehicle runmediate joints of and will maintain ning gear and a body frame,

toggle links, the said horizontal links being pivotall connected to said running gear and sai vertical links being pivotally connected to said frame plungers pivotally connected to the toggles made up of said horizontal and vertical links, and springs re-acti'n a ainst said plungers said bo y rame and exerting a ing to hold buckled positions 2. The combination with a vehicle running gear and a body frame, boththereof force tendhaving anchor brackets, of normally buckled toggles pivotall brackets of sai running gear and frame, plungers pivotally connected tothe intersaid toggles, re-acting a ainst said plungers and against said body rame, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a vehicle running gear and a body frame, both thereof of normallyhorizontal and vertical pivotally connected said toggles in predetermined connected to the anchor and Springs and against having anchor brackets, of normally buckled toggles pivotall connected to the anchor brackets of sai running gear and frame, plungers pivotally connected to the intermediate joints of said toggles, springs reactin against said plungers and against said ody frame, and means for adjusting the tension of said springs, substantially as described. 1 .4. The. combination with a vehicle running having anchor brackets, of normally buckled toggles pivotally connected to the anchor brackets of said running gear and frame, plungers pivotally connected mediate joints'of said toggles, springs reacting against said plungers and against said body frame, and nuts on the ends of saidplungers for adjusting the tension of the said springs, substantially as described. In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

LOUIS MAYER. Witnesses: I ALICE V. Swanson, HARRY D. KILGORE.

to the inter- 

